CIRI Foundation Announces New President and CEO
The CIRI Foundation (TCF), the nonprofit educational arm of the Alaska Native corporation for the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna region, has a new President and CEO. Connie Wirz, an original CIRI enrollee, was selected for the job based on her recent experience building the Clare Swan Early Learning Center (CSELC) into a prominent early head start organization.
“Connie’s leadership and experience will continue to support opportunities for higher education and continue to elevate the quality of life of our people,” says TCF Board Chair Jeff Gonnason.
Wirz holds a bachelor’s degree in education from UAA. Her previous experience with CIRI’s family of socially driven enterprises includes service as a tribal representative on the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) board of directors and an administrator at Southcentral Foundation (SCF). There, Wirz provided leadership in pediatrics, radiology, and audiology village programs and chaired SCF’s Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Nutaqsiivik Community Advisory Board.
In 2015, Wirz joined CITC full-time as senior director of the CSELC. She oversaw nine programs, including administration for Native American grants, Alaska Native Education grants, and state, municipal, and other early learning grants.
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December 2025
Wirz has also served as the executive director of Kenaitze Indian Tribe and Cook Inlet Native Head Start/Early Head Start. In addition, she is a Head Start Fellow working with students from birth through high school.
“I truly appreciate the privilege of being chosen to serve our CIRI community in this role. The CIRI Foundation board is steadfast and diligent in their leadership, and I am truly inspired by how much passion the team displays each time I’ve had the opportunity to work with them,” Wirz says.
Ketchikan Indian Community Launching First Tribal Wellness Center at Salmon Falls Resort
Ketchikan Indian Community acquired Salmon Falls Resort to convert from commercial tourism into the first residential substance abuse detox center in Southeast.
Taking Care of Business: Regional Corporations Score Achievements
In this roundup, some of the twelve Alaska Native regional corporations share recent news, projects, and ongoing benefits for their communities.
Anchorage Chamber Presents 68th Annual Gold Pan Awards
At a Mardi Gras masquerade, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce showered the “Brilliance of Bourbon Street” upon winners who’ve shown business and entrepreneurial excellence.
Also in this issue: building a company and planning an exit strategy; several ESOPs, and UAS’ foray into a new model for tuition. Enjoy!